Today, for everyone who was with The Spoken Word Church from the beginning, is known as "JAY DAY"! This is in honor of one of our oldest and dearest members, Mr Jay Hart, who shared this birthday with his twin brother, Ray! We always also remember Mrs. Mabel Hart. Both Jay and Mabel are currently cheering us on from those heavenly grandstands, waiting until we all celebrate together! In honor of these two very precious family members, I want to simply share these two portions of Scripture! Ephesians 4:11-16:
11 And His gifts were [varied; He Himself appointed and gave men to us] some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors (shepherds of His flock) and teachers. 12 His intention was the perfecting and the full equipping of the saints (His consecrated people), [that they should do] the work of ministering toward building up Christ’s body (the church), 13 [That it might develop] until we all attain oneness in the faith and in the comprehension of the [full and accurate] knowledge of the Son of God, that [we might arrive] at really mature manhood (the completeness of personality which is nothing less than the standard height of Christ’s own perfection), the measure of the stature of the fullness of the Christ and the completeness found in Him. 14 So then, we may no longer be children, tossed [like ships] to and fro between chance gusts of teaching and wavering with every changing wind of doctrine, [the prey of] the cunning and cleverness of unscrupulous men, [gamblers engaged] in every shifting form of trickery in inventing errors to mislead. 15 Rather, let our lives lovingly express truth [in all things, speaking truly, dealing truly, living truly]. Enfolded in love, let us grow up in every way and in all things into Him Who is the Head, [even] Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). 16 For because of Him the whole body (the church, in all its various parts), closely joined and firmly knit together by the joints and ligaments with which it is supplied, when each part [with power adapted to its need] is working properly [in all its functions], grows to full maturity, building itself up in love.
God Himself calls people to where He wants them to live, work, worship, pray, and minister inour own individual Ministries of Reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:17-21). HE knits (KJV) His body together and makes us a FAMILY! Amen! THAT is what Jay and Mabel mean to us! They were and are part of The Spoken Word Church family and we will be spending time with them through all of eternity! HALLELUJAH! The next portion of Scripture that I want to share with you is an exhortation given by Paul and meant for the entire Body of Christ, in all of our various areas around the world! Hebrews 10:22-25:
22 Let us all come forward and draw near with true (honest and sincere) hearts in unqualified assurance and absolute conviction engendered by faith (by that leaning of the entire human personality on God in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness), having our hearts sprinkled and purified from a guilty (evil) conscience and our bodies cleansed with pure water. 23 So let us seize and hold fast and retain without wavering the hope we cherish and confess and our acknowledgement of it, for He Who promised is reliable (sure) and faithful to His word. 24 And let us consider and give attentive, continuous care to watching over one another, studying how we may stir up (stimulate and incite) to love and helpful deeds and noble activities, 25 Not forsaking or neglecting to assemble together [as believers], as is the habit of some people, but admonishing (warning, urging, and encouraging) one another, and all the more faithfully as you see the day approaching.
AMEN! Make sure that you are being an ACTIVE member of YOUR Church Family! THIS is where we really learn the work of the ministry! Some, knowing that they have been called by God, never experience HIS separating them to the ministry because they have not yet learned those lessons of faithfulness and love that can only be learned properly inthe local church! If YOU don't have a local church family, then get into the presence of the Lord until He directs you to where HE wants you to learn and grow and serve! Then GET THERE and thrive! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "Who You Say I Am":
Shalom in Him!
